Add Another -ina to the Resume

     I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the opera career front. Still waiting to hear back from some auditions, but I am pleased to announce that I will be covering the role of Annina and singing in the chorus of the Bronx Opera's production of La Traviata.

     Andy will also being singing Germont in the production. (It seems like Traviata has become our show as a couple.) So if you come see the show, you'll get to see both of us!

     The performances are in May, and I'll be sure to post more details as the date approaches. For now, I'm just excited to start rehearsals soon.

More information on the performances and Bronx Opera are available at their website.

My Honey Valentine

     Now that I am no longer working as a bartender, I rarely mix drinks anymore. I miss creating cocktails sometimes, and so as Valentine's Day approached, I thought it would be the perfect occasion to put my bartending skills to use.

     The main inspiration for this cocktail creation was Andy's new found favorite liquor, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey. I introduced him to it not long ago, and it has swiftly become his go to booze of choice. Naturally, I thought the sweet liqueur would be the perfect base for a Valentine's Day drink, so I started brainstorming.

     The cocktail was success, and I think it would be a tasty beverage for any season. I've shared the recipe below in case any of you would like to try it for yourself.

 

My Honey Valentine: 

1. Pour 2 oz Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey (or any honey whiskey liqueur that you prefer, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey both make their own version).
2.  Add Tazo Passion Iced Tea. (It is a floral and fruity tea but not too sweet. It balances the honey nicely.)
3. Add ginger ale. (Adds a little fizz, and the ginger compliments the honey flavor well.)
4. Pour into sugar rimmed glass and garnish with lemon and strawberry. (Lime would also be a nice addition, and for a valentine flair, cut the strawberry into a heart shape.)

     It is a delicious drink inspired by a special guy. I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day as well, and if I get a chance, I will try to share more cocktail creations with you in the future.

Bronx Bound

     After yet another hiatus, I am back and ready to blog! We are officially connected to the internet, so I no longer have that as an excuse for slacking on the entries. What better way to celebrate my return to the world wide web than to finally share the story of how I ended up in the Bronx with my beau and my black cat.

 

     It seems so long ago, but just a few months ago in November, Andy asked me to tag along with him while he looked at an apartment in the Bronx. His current sublet was almost up, and when a friend told him that a room might be available in the apartment, we took the train up to Bedford Park to meet the friend's father and to check it out. 

      When we arrived, the situation with the apartment was not at all what Andy had expected. I won't go into the details (our neighbor did...the story took up most of two hours while the actual tour took about 15 minutes), but it turned out that the entire three bedroom apartment was up for grabs rather than just a room.

      Before we sat down with our neighbor and began discussing the apartment, the thought that I would be looking at a potential home for myself had not crossed my mind. I was simply there to give Andy a second opinion, but as we walked through the spacious apartment (huge by NYC standards), I found myself being charmed by every room. Suddenly our neighbor starting going on and on about how wonderful it would be to have a nice couple like us living upstairs.

      I was startled at first by his assumption, but his words planted a seed in my brain. Andy and I had never discussed moving in together, and neither of us was sure how the other would feel about such a proposition at this point in our relationship. We were temporarily spared having to make that decision just a few days after our visit, however, because the original tenant who had disappeared (thus leaving the apartment up for grabs) randomly reemerged. Andy didn't particularly want a flaky, vanishing roommate, so the Bronx apartment faded from our minds.

   Cut to Thanksgiving week: Andy gets a call from our neighbor with apartment news. The original tenant had run off again, and they weren't giving him any more chances. The place was all ours (and only ours) if we wanted it. Suddenly we had to have the "do we want to move in together" talk, and we had to make a decision right away. December was fast approaching, and they wanted the place taken by the 1st of the month.

      As you can probably deduce, we decided to make the big step and moved to the Bronx. It just felt right from the start, and I am loving our new home. We were so lucky to find such a nice, affordable apartment. There are so many benefits to finally living in NYC proper as well. The money I save now that I don't have to take the Metro North every day more than makes up for the slight increase in rent. I'm also a big fan of not having to wake up at 5 am and make three transfers to get to work in the morning anymore. Yonkers was nice enough, but getting south of Westchester has made the commute much easier.

     What has astounded me most about the entire situation surrounding our move to the Bronx is the incredible generosity we encountered. New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude and inhospitable, but I have met so many people that prove this stereotype is far from accurate.

      Our neighbors went out of their way to make us feel welcome to our new home from the start. They drove us around for a tour of the neighborhood. They took us out to lunch at a local market. They even let us borrow their car to move our belongings from our separate sublets. Anyone willing to drive out to Yonkers and haul all my sweaters is the picture of generosity in my book.

      The most amazing example of the kindness of strangers was when a friend of our neighbors offered to furnish our entire apartment for free. Apparently her mother-in-law had passed away, so they had a lot of quality furniture that they just didn't have room for but didn't want to discard. She offered us enough items to fill three apartments, and almost every furniture item pictured is on loan to us from this generous acquaintance.

   The friend even paid for professional movers to bring all the furniture into our apartment. All we had to do was tell them where to put everything. It was overwhelming to experience such a gesture. Andy and I just kept wandering from room to room with baffled faces. Occasionally when we were alone we would just stare at each other and go, "Is this really happening?" It was a total "Pinch me. Am I dreaming?" kind of day.

     The best part about inheriting furniture from an elderly woman is the quality. Every piece is so unique (sometimes dated but never cheap). I've posted some exampled of my favorite pieces, including a gorgeous end table with gold trip and our hefty coffee table adorned with what I have dubbed "the Valkyrie swans." Sirius is particularly fond of nuzzling these fearsome looking birds. (I usually just end up bumping my knees on them.) Still...the beauty is definitely in the details.

     It was such a blessing to move into a fully furnished apartment. Since we both had moved out to NYC with mostly clothes and essentials, we had very little to put in our new place. Being able to walk in the front door without being greeted by stark, empty rooms really made me feel at home right away.

   Also, money is always tight living in the city, so it was great not to have to worry about making big purchases that would strain the wallet. They even gave us some kitchenware and linens! Sure we lacked a few key items, but overall we were set.


     Possibly the most unexpected and therefore most appreciated items they bestowed upon us was an upright piano. It is in great shape, and only a half step out of tune! We should probably get it tuned one of these days...practicing is always a little more difficult when I have to transpose everything up a half step. Having our piano is such a luxury though. I'm very grateful. What kind of musician wouldn't appreciate a free piano? I must have done something good in life to be this spoiled.

         We may decide to replace some pieces of furniture in the future, but for now we are quite content to enjoy the generosity shown to us in the Bronx.

      Of course, giving the apartment out own personal touches always helps make it feel like more of a home, and luckily we were able to haul some of our own belongings back to the Bronx with us on our return from the Midwest Christmas Road Trip Extravaganza. Thanks to Andy's expert packing skills we were able to fit quite a few desired items, in particular a wussy black cat in his carrier.

      My main contribution to our new home (of course) was books. I never feel truly settled until I have my favorite literature with me.We could only fit a small portion of my collection in the rental car, so I'm still missing the majority of my beloved tomes. (Apparently Andy can only fit so many sweaters and novels in the back seat and still leave room for Sirius...) I'll just have to be patient and reunite my collection gradually. Don't worry though. I have plenty to read in the meantime.

   As far as useful contributions to the apartment, I made my mark in the kitchen. Now that we have my limited selection of cuisine technology and cookbooks, the cabinets are looking a little less sparse, and our dinners have become slightly more varied. I forgot a few key kitchen items in my parents' basement, so perhaps when I'm back in Iowa for another visit, I can pick those up while I'm gathering more literature. I'm sure Andy would be much more pleased to lug pots and pans back east than my boxes of fiction.

     I'm also looking forward to making personal touches to our apartment together. Things always feel more special when they hold a shared memory. We're slowly acquiring more items that are considered "our" belonging rather than "mine" or "yours," and with them, each one solidifies the feeling that this is "our home."

      Andy's belongings probably did more to amp up the decor, since he has plenty of artwork to brighten our walls. I'm especially fond of his original photography (an example is pictured above), and I can't wait to see more of his creations displayed. 

      Well, I think I've rambled long enough for one post. I'll be sure to share more of my insights on living in the Bronx in the future, but I wanted to share the story of how Andy and I ended up in this borough. It has been a wonderful two months so far, and I'm so glad we decided to take this opportunity together.

      In true cat lady fashion, I'd like to end this post with pictures of Sirius enjoying the new apartment. Andy constructed some awesome kitty shelves in the living room, and though the fat cat was a bit nervous around them at first, he has taken a fancy to them at last.

      He has mastered going down the steps, and of course he excels at napping on them. We have some work to do when it comes to climbing UP the shelves, but for now, he seems more than content letting Andy place him on the top step and going from there.

New Year, Old Roomie

     I am WAY overdue for a blog post I know. December has been a bit chaotic, and we have yet to find the time or money to set up internet in the new apartment. Also, my cell phone has been on the fritz recently which makes taking photos for new posts rather difficult. I think I finally solved the phone issue today, and hopefully we will be connected to the interweb in the very near future, allowing me once again to blog regularly.

     My "fans" (and by fans I mean my mother) apparently have been missing my entries, because I have recently received a request for a new post via my Facebook page. As luck would have it, Andy and I have been staying down in Manhattan for a couple days this weekend in an apartment with wifi, so naturally I brought my laptop along to take advantage of free internet and to fulfill the blog related demand.

     Despite the fact that I haven't been able to blog about it, December was a busy and exciting month. I'll try to break down some of the highlights for you:

1. Andy and I moved to the Bronx! I will share more on this later. I plan on dedicating an entire post to the new apartment, complete with pictures.

2. We also, courtesy of our amazing new neighbors, got to sing in the chorus of Bronx Opera's performance of Messiah. I adore Handel, so I was thrilled to get another chance to participate in his masterpiece. Nothing puts me in the holiday mood like Messiah.

3. Midwest Christmas Road Trip Extravaganza! It was a long drive back to our homeland, but it was so wonderful to be able to make it home for the holidays, even if it was only for a brief time. The week was the perfect blend of new introductions (meeting Andy's family) and reuniting with my own family.

     Now that I've caught you up on how I ended 2013, it's time to look forward to 2014. I've decided to start my new year of blogging as a true cat lady, so prepare yourself.

     Another bonus of driving to Minnesota and Iowa was the opportunity to haul more belongings back with us. I was particularly thrilled because I got to bring my favorite old roomie back with us to the Bronx (with Andy's approval of course).

     That's right! Sirius Black the black cat is back! I was so bummed that I couldn't bring him with me when I first moved out to New York, and I don't think he was very pleased about having to live with the bully calico cat at my parent's house. I am spoiled, however, and have an amazing boyfriend who was willing to welcome the fat cat into our new home, so when we loaded up the car for our trip home, my main concern was, "Is there still room for Sirius? Save a spot for him!"

Fatty in his element.

     Sirius was not happy about the road trip part of our reunion. He's a big scaredy cat, so he spent most of the 20 hour ride cowering in his travel box. When I did manage to lure him out of his shelter, he either curled up on the floor by the passenger seat or sat in my lap and buried his head in my arms like an ostrich. Let's just say by the time we got to the Bronx he was relieved to be anywhere but in a car.

     So far Sirius seems to love the new apartment. It is huge compared to my old place in Duluth, and there are numerous window ledges for him to plop down on and watch the streets below. He's pretty simple to please.

          The fat cat is adapting to his new role as a city cat pretty well. I don't think he's ready to go for walks in Central Park or anything yet (Andy has set this as a goal), but he has become less jumpy about sirens and noise from our neighbors over the past week or so. It's progress at least.

     We did bring Sirius down to Manhattan with us for the weekend, and he most assuredly did NOT like travelling on the subway or being out in the cold. He's been a pampered indoor cat his entire life, so I think the chilly air and the rattling subway car was a bit traumatic for him. He was a quivering, sulking lump in his carrier the whole time. We'll see if he copes any better on the ride home today...

     If you're still reading at this point, I'm impressed. I mean...I've been rambling about my cat this whole time. Yikes. One last amusing anecdote concerning the cat before I finish, and then I promise not to dedicate another blog entry to my cat for at least a couple months. (My Instagram, however, is another story.)

     Sirius is totally going to be spoiled having Andy around. There are already grand plans for cat friendly shelving so that he can climb up to the top of the entertainment center and survey the land. Andy also constructed a large kitty fort out of cardboard boxes for Fatty last weekend.

    I mean, look at that thing! It's huge! Of course, in true cat fashion, no matter how much Andy tries to get him interested in the fort, Sirius will have nothing to do with it. We've tried luring him in with catnip and by placing his scratch pad inside, but he stubbornly ignores it. Perhaps he is using it when we are gone during the day just to spite us... He did actually jump inside the structure of his own accord on one occasion to use the scratcher. Andy's face lit up with such glee only to immediately become crestfallen because the cat changed his mind almost as soon as he set foot inside. Cat's are fickle creatures.

     Alright, I promise I'm done blithering on about my cat! I'll try to make my next post more interesting and informative. Until then, I'll leave you with one last photo of the fat cat.

Stop photographing me, Meghan. This is so embarrassing.

Sans Wifi

Sorry, everyone! I know I've been neglecting the blog, but I just moved last week and have yet to get any sort of internet in the new apartment which makes updating the blog a bit difficult. Please bear with me, and I'll try to share our moving adventures with you soon!

In Conversation with Susan Graham

     I'll keep this post brief because the video speaks for itself. Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by Opera America at The National Opera Center. I hadn't been to their fancy headquarters since I moved out here, and I was thoroughly impressed. There are still many aspects of the center that I have yet to explore, but I definitely plan on numerous future visits.

    The event itself was part of a series entitled "Conversations," and I am looking forward to the next installment on March 20th which will feature tenor Lawrence Brownlee. Check it out!

     It is always so inspiring to learn more about the development of beloved operatic artists, and Susan Graham was such a joyful and sincere person. She clearly has a great passion for music as well as support for young singers. It's encouraging to hear that opera stars like her were also 25, broke, and loving life in NYC. Hopefully I absorbed some of her determination and charm. I highly encourage all of you to watch the video below and soak up some knowledge as well as inspiration.

Learning to Explore New Ideas with an Old Favorite

     This past Thursday I had the pleasure of participating in an unique experience courtesy of Vital Opera. Their Artist Development Workshop presented scenes from Le nozze di Figaro, but the event turned out to be much more than that.

     As an audience member, it was strange initially to watch a sort of public rehearsal, but after the first couple scenes, the format had won me over. The ensemble of singers was so courageous and willing to experiment in front of a skeptical  crowd, and their enthusiasm and acceptance was infectious.

     Now I'm not going to pretend that I absolutely loved every moment of the experience because I didn't. Le nozze di Figaro is one of my absolute favorite operas, and often I get annoyed if a performance doesn't live up to my standards. I found myself falling into this trend a lot during the workshop, but I had to just keep reminding myself that this wasn't supposed to be a finished product. I had no qualms whatsoever about the singers' abilities themselves. Every role was well sung and performed. It was a talented group, and they worked well together for how little time they'd been rehearsing together.

    In the end, it was the discussion after the scenes that had the greatest impact upon me personally. There were a few points made that struck me the most, and I'd like to expound upon them briefly for you here:

1. Rules of "The Room"

     One of the very first things the director of Vital Opera, Kelvin Chan, did at this event was share with the audience the "Room Rules" that the ensemble had created during their rehearsal process. I don't remember every single rule, but the main goal seemed to be to create an environment in which the cast members would feel secure and open minded enough to experiment as performers.
     This concept of  "the Room" where each person was invested in not only his/her own explorations but also those of fellow cast mates was refreshing. It seems like something that should be more fundamental and not so surprising to me as a performer, but it is all too easy to forget. I applaud the singers in this workshop for their willingness to accept these rules with complete trust and enthusiasm. Their performances were all the stronger for this open minded attitude, and I hope that I can apply these concepts in my own career.

2. The conundrum

     Once the ideal scenario of "the Room" has been experienced, the more difficult question arises: How does one carry these concepts into environments that may not be so encouraging or supportive?  There is really no simple answer to this, but it is worth pondering.
     All too often as performers we find ourselves in environments that do not allow us to experiment. Sometimes it is because of a director with a very specific vision. Sometimes it is because of a competitive atmosphere between singers. Sometimes the issue lies in our own heads because of difficult music, staging that makes us uncomfortable, non-musical stress, or the ever present fear of failure. Whatever the reason, it holds us back from taking risks, and that is a crucial element of performing. I like to think that being aware of the need to foster creativity is half the battle, and when I am preparing a role and rehearsing in the future, I hope that I may be able to infuse some of Vital Opera's vitality into my own process.

3. Stock characters and preconceptions

     The biggest moment of self-awareness that I experienced that night, however, was related to the idea of stock characters and conventions. Now, as I mentioned earlier, Le nozze di Figaro is a very beloved opera to me, and I can get annoyed when I don't think Mozart's creation is getting properly displayed. My friends have experienced this after numerous recitals when I insist on playing recordings for them to contrast whichever aria has just been butchered according to my opinion.
     As I watched Vital Opera's workshop, I often found myself having adverse reactions to various experimentations. They would try some extreme alteration in a characterization, and while I knew it was simply to explore a new perspective, I would immediately dislike it. They stated many times that the process involved asking a lot of questions about a character without committing to any answer or decision. The perfectionist control freak in me was not pleased, crying out, "No! They're doing it wrong! Bartolo would never do that! The Count isn't like that at all!"
     It wasn't until the discussion turned to stock characters and preconceptions that I started to recognize my hang ups. I generally like to think of myself as open minded about stagings and such, so why was I so horrified by a simple exercise in character development? Maybe I wasn't as open to change as I thought I was. What was the possible harm in trying something new? Who was to say what was right or wrong with a choice in character portrayal? I had set myself up as an authority where I had no right, and while I am still sensitive about upholding the works I cherish, I am determined to be more accepting of new ideas in an old favorite. Art of any kind is up to interpretation. I don't have to agree with every choice made in an opera production, but I will respect the rights of singers, directors, and designers to make their own choices and try to glean what I can from their perspective.

     By the end of the night, I had learned much more than I anticipated, and I want to thank Vital Opera for welcoming their audience members to participate in their workshop and for nurturing such an energetic and open environment of artistic growth. The opera world needs more experiences like this, and I look forward to this company's future work.

     And just for fun, here's a clip from The Met's 1999 production of Le nozze di Figaro: